Matthew Croft

Matthew Croft Email and Phone Number

Interim IT Finance Director | Finance & Technology Transformation | Carve Outs @ YouGov
london, greater london, united kingdom
Matthew Croft's Location
Reading, England, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Matthew Croft's Contact Details

Matthew Croft work email

Matthew Croft personal email

n/a
About Matthew Croft

I am a highly commercial Finance professional, with strong expertise at the intersection of Finance, Technology & Change. As both an interim, and in permanent roles, I have led the delivery of major change programmes at blue-chip Financial Services, Media and Transport firms. I have specialist skills in supporting and guiding CIOs / CTOs and functional C-suite on technology strategy, digital investment cases and in enhancing IT cost base robustness and transparency. I have been a Gartner Advisory Board member, providing input to the IT Financial Leaders stream at the annual IT Sourcing Summit. I hold an Agile project management certification.As a senior Finance leader, I build productive relationships with Executives I partner with, bringing strategic clarity through using my judgement and insight to help them decide what will work in the real world. I am great at translating strategy into practical results, bringing a sustained focus on improving the quality, reliability, and effectiveness of programmes I lead on.

Matthew Croft's Current Company Details
YouGov

Yougov

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Interim IT Finance Director | Finance & Technology Transformation | Carve Outs
london, greater london, united kingdom
Website:
yougov.com
Employees:
2467
Matthew Croft Work Experience Details
  • Yougov
    Finance Integration Lead (Interim) - Gfk Consumer Panel Services Acquisition
    Yougov Oct 2023 - Present
    London, England, United Kingdom
    Finance Integration Lead on YouGov's €315m acquisition of GfK's European Consumer Panel Services business - YouGov's largest acquisition to date.Interim support on pre-deal carve out activity (tax structuring, legal, treasury, TSAs) and on post deal Finance integration work.https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/yougov/news/rns/story/xq8117xhttps://polaris.brighterir.com/public/yougov/news/rns/story/x44yokx
  • Mdc Interim Ltd
    Director
    Mdc Interim Ltd Sep 2019 - Present
    Provision of interim IT Finance and Change consultancy services to CFOs, CIOs and CTOs
  • Kantar
    Finance & Legal Workstream Programme Lead (Interim) – Media Separation Programme
    Kantar Jun 2022 - May 2023
    London, England, United Kingdom
    $30m global carve-out programme to legally and operationally separate Kantar Media business. Kantar is a leading data, insights and consulting company, operating in 90 countries – Private Equity owned (Bain Capital).Reporting to UK & Global Product FD, responsible for managing Finance & Legal programme activity to deliver Q1 2023 separation.
  • Phoenix Group
    Programme Director (Interim)
    Phoenix Group Aug 2021 - Feb 2022
    Leading reset of high profile Technology programme at FTSE 100 insurer. Programme delivers a transformed desktop and collaboration experience to the Phoenix Group, with a focus on deploying Microsoft 365 applications. Responsible for managing multiple technology partners and working with stakeholders across the 3 Phoenix Group businesses - Standard Life, ReAssure and legacy Phoenix.
  • Arriva Group
    Interim Finance Director - Technology
    Arriva Group Oct 2019 - Apr 2021
    Holborn, London
    Reporting to Group CIO, provided consulting expertise to transform IT financial capability in major transport provider and to support divestment programme from German parent, via IPO or trade sale. • Trusted Finance Partner – established collaborative relationships with CIO and her Leadership Team, raising credibility of Technology area across Arriva by quickly embedding best practice IT Finance disciplines. Provided commercial input to rapidly identify and size IT cost savings, supporting Group FD in preserving cash when COVID impacted transport sector. Produced cost analysis to support trade sale discussions, meeting with private equity buyers and advisors.• Implemented New Chargeback Model – oversaw build of IT shared services recharge model. Led briefing dialogue with customer CxOs to explain allocation approach - successfully managed robust challenge on recharge changes. Positive feedback from CxOs on transparency provided, equipping them with levers to control IT service consumption and cost. • SAP S/4 Hana and AWS QuickSight Programmes – development of business cases and supporting cashflows to obtain Board approval for two agile-delivered programmes (£30m). Provided challenge and advice to CIO & programme teams. • Improved Finance Control & Capability – used IT Finance experience to expose and correct sources of accounting issues (project income under-recovery, incorrect asset treatment, etc), brokering resolution with European CxO stakeholders. Tapped into network to source new staff for Finance team and supported recruitment of permanent Head of Finance.
  • M&G Plc
    Finance Director - Enterprise Technology
    M&G Plc Aug 2018 - Sep 2019
    London, United Kingdom
    Core CIO Team member, responsible for financial and strategic support to new Enterprise Technology area - £250m spend. • Led IT Cost Demerger Work - consolidated 3 IT areas into single Technology cost base, managing political and ambiguous environment to agree and assign target savings for divested M&G plc. Supported demerger workstream from Prudential group, advising on service company structure, staff TUPE, pension impacts, asset transfers and IT contract commercials. • Transformation Strategy - partnered with new CIO to develop strategy and business case for future IT operating model. Engaged and directed ISG Benchmarking to provide comparison to industry peers. Strategy focused on increasing agile delivery, improving service performance, and optimising IT cost base via application rationalisation, automation, and selective outsourcing. Secured PLC investment approval and set up robust programme benefits tracking. Advisory Board member for annual Gartner IT Financial and Procurement conference
  • Prudential Plc
    Chief Financial Officer - Prudential Global Data Services (Pgds)
    Prudential Plc Jan 2016 - Jul 2018
    London, United Kingdom
    CFO, Board and Audit Committee member of Prudential plc IT shared service business unit. • Executed Transformation Programme - partnered with new, external CEO to devise and deliver strategy to transform PGDS. Programme covered (1) Outsource of hosting and networks, (2) Modernisation of end user services, (3) Streamline and Upskilling of remaining organisation. Prinicipal Executive on £450m outsource deal, leading commercial delivery on contract. Set up Vendor Management Office capability to manage outsource. • Executive Leadership - devised set of Performance Priorities to communicate and manage PGDS performance and bonus reward. Ran newly formed PGDS Board meetings at which reviewed Priorities status with COOs from 3 main customer business units. • Introduced Service Line Pricing - implemented Apptio to bring transparency into drivers behind technology recharging. Changed focus from ‘IT is too expensive’ to balanced debate on Price (Technology costs) and Quantity (business consumption). Worked with COOs to proactively help business units drive behavioural change in technology adoption and rationalisation.• In charge of all Finance processes including compilation and agreement of annual Strategic Plan to GHO. Director responsible for signing PGDS statutory accounts.
  • Prudential Assurance
    Head Of Finance Operations
    Prudential Assurance May 2014 - Dec 2015
    Led multidiscplinary team of 70 across 4 sites in UK and India. Responsible for Finance Systems, Fund Accounting, Accounts Payable, Actuarial Modelling & Data. IFRS 17 – UK lead for initial ‘Assess’ phase of Plc programme to prepare Prudential for demanding new insurance accounting rules. Worked with PWC to interpret IASB material and delivered an impact assessment to Group to identify and size the required changes to data, systems and models (£40-50m).
  • Prudential Assurance
    Head Of Finance Systems, Controls & Change
    Prudential Assurance May 2008 - Apr 2014
    Reporting to UK & Europe CFO, led for Finance on major change programmes. Included leading on Solvency II Pillar 3 disclosure regime and managing UK aspects of Prudential Group programme to introduce a Hyperion Financial Management consolidation system.Responsible for all Finance systems strategy, support and development. Introduced several new applications to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Finance processes, including Qlikview and Anaplan.In charge of Financial Controls, with accountability for Sarbanes Oxley testing programme, reporting quarterly to UK Audit Committee.
  • Prudential Assurance
    Head Of Finance Systems
    Prudential Assurance Jan 2005 - Apr 2008
    Responsible for all Finance systems strategy, support and development - covering general ledger, MI reporting, analytics, forecasting, cost allocation and reconciliation systems.Played key role in large scale Finance transformation programme to offshore 80 transactional roles, including providing extensive training programme in Mumbai on systems and processes. Additionally created offshore capability to support Finance Systems.
  • Prudential Assurance
    Senior Finance Manager - Mi Systems Development
    Prudential Assurance Jan 2001 - Dec 2004
    Responsible for delivery of a strategy to radically improve the production and use of financial management information following merger of 5 Prudential business units. Led selection and implementation of Cognos Planning. Significantly reduced length and resources involved in forecasting process. Drove expansion of Cognos into sales and profitability forecasting. Cognos recognised project success by awarding Prudential their top customer honour in 2004.Selected and implemented Business Objects for MI reporting. Managed development of a Finance Data Mart by WIPRO - provided a centralised data repository for all Finance MI.
  • Prudential Assurance
    Executive Business Manager To Ceo - Group Pensions
    Prudential Assurance 1999 - 2000
    Worked on strategy initiatives, market research and liaison with Group Head Office.
  • Prudential Assurance
    Finance Manager - Group Pensions
    Prudential Assurance 1998 - 1999
  • Prudential Assurance
    Graduate Accountancy Trainee Scheme
    Prudential Assurance 1994 - 1997

Matthew Croft Skills

Finance Stakeholder Management Financial Services Financial Analysis Forecasting Financial Reporting Risk Management It Financial Management Strategic Initiatives Finance Function Transformation It Outsourcing Leadership Commerical Negotiation Shared Services Strategic Planning Budgeting Finance Systems Programme Management Financial Controls Sox

Frequently Asked Questions about Matthew Croft

What company does Matthew Croft work for?

Matthew Croft works for Yougov

What is Matthew Croft's role at the current company?

Matthew Croft's current role is Interim IT Finance Director | Finance & Technology Transformation | Carve Outs.

What is Matthew Croft's email address?

Matthew Croft's email address is ma****@****l.co.uk

What schools did Matthew Croft attend?

Matthew Croft attended University Of Portsmouth, The London School Of Economics And Political Science (Lse), Saïd Business School, University Of Oxford.

What skills is Matthew Croft known for?

Matthew Croft has skills like Finance, Stakeholder Management, Financial Services, Financial Analysis, Forecasting, Financial Reporting, Risk Management, It Financial Management, Strategic Initiatives, Finance Function Transformation, It Outsourcing, Leadership.

Who are Matthew Croft's colleagues?

Matthew Croft's colleagues are Teresa Gómez, Michael Schreyer, Ahmed Gmal, Brittanie Lavalley, Elian Gadina, Michael Wnuk, Emily Patel.

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